The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Pittsburgh Pirates scored eight runs.
Couldn’t expect to see Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter win on back to back days, now could we?
Leiter was staked to an early 2-0 lead but it was clear that he didn’t have it today as he labored through four innings on 88 pitches with just two strikeouts. Two Pirates runs in the fourth tied the game before Leiter returned to start the fifth and a leadoff walk meant an early shower.
That walked batter eventually scored — and so did many more to follow — to pin a loss on Leiter as middle reliever Caleb Boushley came in and killed the game dead. Boushley allowed five runs in the fifth and, before his day was over, he allowed 10 base hits with just one strikeout.
Just about the best thing you can say about Boushley’s appearance is that, after it was clear it wasn’t Texas’ day, he stayed in and soaked up the remaining four innings to prevent any other tired arms from having to pitch in this lost cause.
Ultimately, the Rangers did secure a third consecutive road series victory with their win yesterday but the sweep eluded them and so to did their shot at returning to .500.
Player of the Game: Every time I see Sam Haggerty in the lineup I find myself annoyed because it’s hard to take a team that wants to contend seriously when they have Sam Haggerty as a lineup mainstay.
But also Sam Haggerty keeps getting on base — which he did a team-high three times today — and now has an OBP of .350 on the year. That mark trails only Josh Smith for best on the team so the correct answer is probably to be annoyed with everyone else in the lineup.
Up Next: After three straight Mondays off, the Rangers play tomorrow in Baltimore to begin the final leg of this road trip. LHP Patrick Corbin is expected to start in the opener for Texas opposite LHP Trevor Rogers for the Orioles.
The Monday evening first pitch from Camden Yards is scheduled for 5:35 pm CT and will be carried on the Rangers Sports Network.